Status of Republika Srpska – Most important issue for Serbs in BiH

Milorad Dodik: - Republika Srpska is recognized and accepted even among those who dislike it and believe that it is not just it exists at all.

In the second part of an interview for the Republika Srpska News Agency /SRNA/, Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik spoke about the status of Republika Srpska as the most important issue for the Serbs in BiH, the need for increased responsibility and solidarity of all, and the cooperation with Serbia and Russia as certain and stable Srpska’s partners. Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik has said that the status of Republika Srpska is dominantly and permanently the most important issue for the Serb people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that the two key issues in that fight for the status are – responsibility and solidarity of all people who bear Republika Srpska is in their hearts.

The Srpska president stressed in an interview with SRNA that the status of Republika Srpska is a long-term objective requiring work on daily basis, which covers not only internal political issues, but also relations the region-wide, social and economic issues, including the fight against all the decadent phenomena in society.

“Fighting in all these fields implies definitely the fight for the status. When we say the status this does not always inviolably mean some form of a state, but also the fight for each our day. Every day is a struggle … Without the struggle and dedication to the public and national interest, there is no country, no republic, no entity, no national of any other human communities,” noted Dodik.

The Srpska president said that, in this regard, all must more devote themselves to the interests of the community, bear responsibility for the work they do and show solidarity towards those in need.

“Responsibility for the work you do and solidarity for those who cannot succeed are definitely something we need to reaffirm” said Dodik.
Dodik added that, as the president of Republika Srpska, he may notice the processes that more support the people to turn to their individual positions, instead of making them ready to commit to a common goal.
“Of course, I understand that a lot of things have been done to challenge these common objectives. But still, the people carry a thread related to the common goal. Flawless manifestation of relations towards Srpska on the occasion of January 9 made me proud. But we cannot do this only once a year, we have to do it every day, both visibly and invisibly,” said Dodik.

He added that Republika Srpska can succeed only if it becomes the property of all the people, adding that, unfortunately, many people who were appointed to some public positions are not exactly in the best possible extent devoted to the public interest, or they are either irreversible lazy or lack the initiative.

“The question here is how to give to the state, i.e. how to give to Srpska, instead of taking it from it. Republika Srpska needs additional capacity and energy of its people, an additional manifestation of love and determination. This is what we need in the future, which is top-class issue of our days, months and years to come,” said the president of Srpska.

He has explained that this means a greater accountability of people who work on behalf of the community, while every single person must sense solidarity.
“This dimension of solidarity must be brought back, because if we lose it, there will be no society,” says Dodik.

The Srpska president added that he is not satisfied with those who should have given more from the positions they hold, but taken more interests in the things of daily or personal character.

He has explained this does not refer to the republic government only, where the above mentioned is present, but also to the local community or, for example, the health care sector.

“You cannot believe that there are doctors in the public sector, who are working against the system, and they really do … for instance, they break five million dollars worth machine and say the machine is out of order. They then address the patients to private clinics. Does such person, who is contributing to the collapse of the public health system, bear responsibility? No, he does not, he still sits there, until the last day and then, when he leaves he says `Oh, that did not work at all`, but he did his best to make it wrong,” says Dodik.

He has explained that huge investments made particularly in the health sector, were obviously not accepted by the medical community, which should have recognised that progress and adapted to it, but failed.

“The concept of understanding that once you get employed, not only in the health sector but elsewhere, you keep that position for a lifetime without changing anything is catastrophic and only shows that you actually freeze the social reality, not just yourself,” Dodik said in an interview with SRNA.

Noting that many have already been held responsible in a political sense and that “chasing someone for something he has done on daily basis” is not his role in society, the president of Srpska said that effective fighting against the decadent phenomenon requires inviolable judiciary, which, unfortunately, does not exist.

“The government and the president were stripped of the legislative powers of the judiciary and its organization, thus I have neither possibility to create nor to influence it,” says Dodik.

According to him, when you add the organisation of the judiciary at the state level to it, it is obvious that it is a prank to everyone in BiH made by the international community, which allegedly carried out the reform of the judiciary about ten years ago, and introduced some positions that do not exist anywhere in the world.

“Today you have a judiciary that embarks on a political revenge against different structures, rather than cracking down on crime. I think the justice is now being managed by the criminals,” said Dodik.

When asked how often he bears responsibility for someone else’s irresponsibility, Dodik said that, in the perception of the people, he is usually guilty or responsible for something that is not his failure, but it is usual taking into account the position he holds.

“Of course, my responsibility as a man who runs Republika Srpska is increased not only from the standpoint of the position itself, but also from the standpoint of people’s expectations. I can only say there is no lack of my engagement In these circumstances. If I looked back and, in some abstract political sense, analyzed what I did, I am of the opinion that I strengthened Republika Srpska in impossible conditions,” said Dodik.

He noted that those were the conditions of increased international intervention and protectorates, but also of internal divisions within the Serb political groups, and the invasion of the Bosniaks policy, the politics from Sarajevo that always wished misfortune upon Republika Srpska.

“Now, I am of the opinion that I managed to respond to these challenges under such conditions and to keep the framework of Republika Srpska safe. In this regard I feel very comfortable,” says the Srpska president.

He added that, in this respect, Srpska is missing people who think of not only the present but also the future, the people who can recognize processes.

“We are a small community with a lot of responsibility, the needs to manage processes, projects … Objectively, we do not have enough people who can do that, no matter what anybody says about it,” said Dodik.

Dodik pointed out that an additional problem is the division between the political parties, which scattered that little ‘potential that can lead’, which shows that this society deals with the lack of professional, dedicated management in general.

“If a politician, or someone who aspires to become involved in the politics, does not have in mind that the decision he is making today may result in the bad consequences that will last for the next 20, 30 or 50 years, then that person is not a politician, but the man who strayed,” warned Dodik, adding that coming out of apathy and dealing with real life is the must.

Concerning the above mentioned, he pointed out that maintaining financial stability is not at all simple, but that Srpska is succeeding in it, regardless of the negative forecasts by the opposition leaders who constantly rise the tensions.

“You have (Mladen) Ivanic who does not see Feb or March pass without talking that pension payments will not be paid out in two months. For the last 7 years he has been telling in public that payment of pensions would be suspended and it has not,” Dodik remained.

He added that, however, there is another thing which is that, all that time, Republika Srpska suffered the invasion of the internationals’ concept of starting with the savings and the salary reduction by 30 percent. Now, both the IMF and the World Bank admit that the reduction of public sector consumption was a wrong concept.

“I we than announced the reduction of salaries as they asked us to do – this society would not stand a chance now. We maintained it all – the salary level, which competes with regional salary payments in Serbia, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and even in some elements in Croatia, which is an EU member,” said Dodik, and stressed that preserving certain level that was achieved under certain circumstances is successes.

The Srpska president recalled the numerous infrastructure projects being implemented in Srpska, as well as those of regional character that resulted from good relations with Serbia, which Republika Srpska has signed the Agreement on Special Parallel Relations with.

“I am glad we hushed those who often ask us what the special relations are. Now, we have something to show and say – look and see what it is,” said Dodik.

He recalled that a number of the relations related issues were resolved with Serbia; almost all the protocols on cooperation between the different levels and institutions of Srpska and Serbia have been signed with Serbia, which as a signatory of the Dayton Accords, has the additional responsibility for the situation in Srpska and BiH.

“The dialogue we have with the leadership of Serbia, first of all, with President Tomislav Nikolic and Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, is a very constructive and good. I believe they have demonstrated a resolute position of Serbia in regard to the respect of the Dayton Agreement,” said Dodik.

The Srpska president added that their political approach to the compliance with the Dayton Agreement, i.e. the BiH being organised on the Dayton principle, gives Srpska wide opportunities.

“We have never been pressured by the current leadership of Serbia. We discuss all issues. We want a strong Serbia and it is our commitment,” said Dodik.

According to him, a strong Serbia is a backbone of regional stability and strong Serbia means strong institutions. “I wish Serbia all the best in the upcoming elections. Vucic has demonstrated a significant responsibility in this regard and I believe it will be continued,” said Dodik.

He stressed that Russia is one of the certain and stable Srpska’s partners without political demands, which assists in accordance with the importance it has as a member of a large international community.

“Russia has often been ostracized by the international community because it was principled. In BiH, Russia as part of the Peace Implementation Council was dedicated to the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, while others from the international community were not, thus they put Russia aside,” said Dodik.

However, Dodik points out, Russia is principled in the maintenance of international law which is very important for Republika Srpska.

“It suits us and we are proud of the ties we have with Russia. Of course, the entire region is directed towards the European processes, although it is clear that Europe is seeking itself and the events that we see in Europe absolutely suggest that Europe is not what it used to be, thus it will be necessary to wait for some new Europe and declare our position on it,” Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik said in an interview for Srna.

The Srpska Times is the first English language magazine originating from Republika Srpska with the aim, priority and objective of reporting timely, verified and accurate information on the current events, processes and attitudes (official and public opinion) in Republika Srpska